Dispensing device for plastic materials and the like



y 7, 1956 w. A. SHERBONDY 2,755,003

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR PLASTIC MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 26. 19542 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILL/AM A,5I1'EI?B0NDY MW YMJ A TTORNL'YS-July 17, 1956 w. A. SHERBONDY DISPENSING DEVICE FOR PLASTIC MATERIALSAND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 26, 1954 INVENTOR. W/ L L/AM A.JHERBONDY BY MYOLQM ATTOQNEXS- United States Patent DISPENSING DEVICEFOR PLASTIC MATERIALS AND THE LIKE William A. Sherbondy, Cleveland, OhioApplication November 26, 1954, Serial No. 471,207

12 Claims. (Cl. 222-327) The present invention relates generally asindicated to a dispensing device for plastic materials such as, forexample, calking compound and like semi-solid or viscous substances.

More particularly, the present invention is concerned with, but notlimited to, improvements in a plastic material-containing cartridgewhich is adapted to be installed in a holder or calking gun, said gunbeing operative to dispense the contents of the cartridge through adischarge spout at one end of the latter or of the gun.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to provide calking gun cartridgesin the form of mailing tubes filled with calking compound and closed byplungers and frangible seals at their respective ends, the frangibleseals being effective to prevent leakage of the calking compound and toseal the calking compound from atmospheric exposure. The spout fordispensing the calking material may be a part of the cartridge itself orit may be a part of the calking gun or holder proper. In either event,once the frangible seal has been broken and the cartridge put to use,there has arisen the annoying problem that each time that the calkinggun is set aside, the calking compound slowly oozes from the spout,owing to gradual release of the pressure exerted thereon when the gun isin use. Thus, the workman has found it necessary to be very careful asto where he sets the gun down, and in any event he is bothered with thecleaning up of the inch or more of calking compound which may ooze fromthe end of the spout owing to such release of pressure.

With the foregoing and other problems in mind, it is one principalobject of this invention to provide a valved calking gun and cartridgehaving a valve which may be operated to close the discharge passage ofthe cartridge so that such oozing of the calking compound is avoided during periods of non-use of the gun.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique valve mechanismwhich is simple and foolproof in operation and which does not interferewith the normal dispensing of the contents of the cartridge.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cartridge valvemechanism which does not add to the cost of the cartridge, whereby, asbefore, the cartridge may be discarded when empty and a new one insertedinto the gun or holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple form of valveactuator carried by the gun, which actuator either permits or preventsflow of calking material through the dispensing spout.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valveactuatingmechanism which is mounted on the gun proper and which has a triggerwhich is latched in valve-closing position, as with the forefinger ofthe same hand in which the handle of the gun is held. Thus, the valveclosing is a simple, one-hand operation so that the workman standing ona ladder, for example, can hold the gun in one hand and operate thevalve trigger with a finger of the same hand, whereby his other hand isfree to hold the ladder.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features herein after fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, showing the combination cartridge and gun;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view, on enlarged scale, of thedispensing end of the Fig. 1 assembly;

Fig. 3 is a central cross-section view showing the cartridge valvemechanism in its closed position to prevent the escape of plasticmaterial from within the cartridge tube;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-section view taken substantially along theline 44, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view similar to Fig. 2except illustrating a modification;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section view of the Fig. 5 modification inclosed position;

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-section view taken substantially along theline 7-7, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section view of a preferred form of the presentinvention; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are side and front elevation views of a modification.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1 thereof,the calking gun or cartridge holder 1 is exemplarily shown as comprisinga semi-circular body or cradle 2 having a ring 3 welded thereto at oneend through the opening of which ring the spout 4 of the cartridge 5 isadapted to be inserted, said cartridge being supported on cradle 2.

Welded at the other end of said cradle 2 is a ring 6 to which the handleassembly 7 is riveted or otherwise secured. The handle assembly 7 has atrigger 8 pivoted thereto at the pivot 9 and within the handle, andactuated by the trigger is a ratchet mechanism, not shown, which isoperative in well known manner to axially advance the rod 10 each timethat the trigger is squeezed.

The rod 10 has formed on its under surface a series of teeth 11 engagedby the ratchet mechanism, and when said rod is rotated about itslongitudinal axis to position the teeth at the side or top, said rod maybe Withdrawn axially toward the right to position its plunger head 12adjacent the end ring 6 so that the cartridge 5 may be inserted as abovedescribed and removed when empty.

The cartridge 5 may comprise, for example, a cylinder body 14, usually apiece of paper mailing tube having a metal reinforced edge 15 at oneend, if desired or necessary, and a dispensing spout 4 at the other end.Fitted into the handle end of the cartridge 5 is a plunger 16 in theform of a thin sheet metal stamping upon which the plunger head 12 ofthe rod 10 is adapted to press to thus move said plunger 16 toward theleft in the tube 14 for discharging the plastic substance fromtherewithin.

The dispensing end of the cartridge 5 is here exemplarily shown ascomprising an inner disc part 17 which has a cylindrical flange portionfitting closely the inner surface of the tube 14 and a radial flangewhich abuts the end of said tube so as to properly position said part inthe end of said tube. An outer ring part 18 includes a cylindricalflange portion which fits snugly in the cylindrical flange of said innerpart 17, and the radially outwardly extending flange of said outer partis spun or crimped over the outside of the tube 14 to thus firmly securethe two parts 17 and 13 in place at the dispensing end of the cartridge.

Gripped between the spaced apart, radially inwardly extending portionsof said parts 17 and 18 is the peripheral portion of the laterallyflexible flange 19 of the spout 4, said spout being made of flexibleplastic or like material. The inner part 17, as best shown in Figs. 2,3, and 4, is provided with flap valves 29 hinged thereto. Said flapvalves 20 are preferably formed integrally with said inner part 18 byshearing through the metal thickness except at the portions thereofwhich constitute the hinges.

The inner portion of the spout flange 19 is formed with an axiallyprojecting annular bead 21, which is normally spaced away from the innerpart 17 as is shown in Fig. 2. Initially, when a new cartridge isinserted in the holder 1, the flap valves 20 will be flush with thecentral portion of the inner part 17 and a suitable sealing substancesuch as plastic cement or the like on the shear lines of said flapvalves 20 will be effective to prevent leakage of the plastic materialfrom within the cartridge 5 and also to prevent exposure thereof to theair.

After the cartridge 5 has been inserted into the holder 1, all that theoperator has to do is to squeeze the trigger 8, thus advancing the rodtoward the left and creating a high pressure on the plastic material inthe cartridge 5. This high pressure forces the flap valves to swingoutward about their hinges to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereuponthe plastic material is then freely discharged from within the tube 14through the passages 23 and out through the spout 4.

Now, when it is desired to set the calking gun aside, all that it isnecessary to do is to axially retract the spout 4 toward the right fromthe Fig. 2 to the Fig. 3 position, such retraction being through head 21effective to swing the flap valves 20 to the flush position and therebyprevent oozing of the calking compound from within the cartridge.

The mechanism for so axially retracting the spout is here shown ascomprising an L-shaped member 25 hinged- 1y connected at 26 to the topof ring 3 of the holder and having an offset portion 27 which bears onthe base of the spout flange 19. The rest of said valve actuator 25extends rearwardly along the bottom of saddle 2 toward the handle 7 ofthe gun and passes through guide openings 2S and 29 formed in saidsaddle 2. The rear end of said actuator 25 is bent to form a trigger orfinger piece 30 which is adapted to be drawn rearwardly as with theforefinger of the hand in which the calking gun is held.

Said rcarwardly extending portion of said actuator 25 is formed with ahook 31 or the like which, when the trigger 38 is pulled to the right,engages the right hand edge of the guide 29, and thus serves as a latchto hold the actuator 25 in the Fig. 3 position until such time as saidhook 31 is pressed laterally toward the saddle 2, whereupon theresilience of the spout flange 19 will cause the same to move toward theleft. Then, by squeezing the trigger 8, the flap valves 20 will again beswung outward to the Fig. position.

In Figs. 5-7, there is shown a modification of the present invention inwhich the annular head 21 of the spout 4 engages an unapertured portionof the inner part 35, and thus serves to prevent oozing of the materialfrom within the cartridge 5, and in this case the valve flaps 36 arecircularly arranged outward of the head 21. As shown in Fig. 6, when thevalve mechanism is in the closed position, the valve flaps 36 are notswung all the way back to their initial flush position; and, therefore,this form of the invention will have a somewhat longer life than theFigs. 2-4 form before the valve fiaps break off at the hinges. However,even in the Figs. 24 form of the invention, the valve flaps 20 can beopened and closed more than the usual number of times that a calking gunis set aside and closed. Also, the

form of the invention in Figs. 5-7 provides a greater number of flowopenings 37 to reduce the pressure drop or pressure required on thematerial to dispense the same through the spout 4.

The valve actuator 25 is in this case of the same construction asillustrated and described with reference to Figs. 1-4; and, therefore,repetition thereof is not deemed necessary.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described inconnection with a cartridge-type calking gun wherein the spout 4 andvalve mechanism is a part of the cartridge itself, it is to beunderstood that the spout could be secured to the end of the gun orholder or that a similar valve mechanism may be incorporated at the endof the holder rather than at the end of the cartridge 5 withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

In such latter case, the end of the cartridge 5 could be provided withthe usual type of frangible seal and, when installed, the cartridge endwould sealingly engage that part of the holder which constitutes theflap valve mechanism, and here again the retraction of the spout or aflanged member will effect a closing of the dispensing passage so thatthe contents of the cartridge would be retained therein. Furthermore,when the valve mechanism is in the end cap of the holder, bulk compoundmay be loaded into the holder barrel, and when the valve mechanism isclosed the bulk compound is prevented from oozing from the holder spoutduring periods of non-use of the gun.

Referring now to the preferred form of my invention as illustrated inFig. 8, the cartridge 5 and holder 1 are of the same generalconstruction as Figs. 5 to 7 except that the end ring 40, substitutedfor end ring 3 and actuator 25, has a central, internally threadedextrusion 41 in which a tubular screw 42 is thrcadedly engaged, saidscrew having a knurled flange 43 by which said screw may be rotated.

As evident, when said screw 42 is rotated so as to retract it toward theright, its righthand annular and bears on the base of flange 19 of thespout 4 to thus urge the bead 21 into engagement with the centralimperforate portion of the inner stamping 35 so as to close thecartridge 5 in the manner already explained in detail with respect tothe Figs. 5 to 7. Obviously, if desired, a cartridge 5 of the Figs. 2 to4 construction may be used instead of the Figs. 5 to 7 cartridge.

The Fig. 8 improvement is not only simple in construction, but iseconomical to manufacture and is positive in its cartridge-closingaction.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the valve actuator linkage comprisestwo pieces, viz. a front plate 45 hinged to end ring 46 and having anopening through which spout 4 extends and integral lugs 47 adapted tobear on the flange 19 of said spout 4 in the manner illustrated in Figs.3 or 6; and a bottom rod 48 hooked to the lower edge of said plate 45and provided with a finger ring 49 and a latch 50.

As a further feature, said rod 48 engages the saddle 2 at two spacedapart points 51 and 52, whereby when it is desired to release the latch50, all that the operator has to do is to press the rod 48 toward thegun saddle 2 at some point between the points 51 and 52.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a plastic material-containing cartridge, the combination of atubular body, a spout having a dispensing passage therethrough and alaterally flexible flange peripherally secured at one end of said body,an end wall member secured within such one end of said body with itscentral portion axially spaced from the central portion,

of said flange whereby the latter may be laterally flexed to engage saidwall member, said end wall member having a passage therethrough which isinitially closed to seal the contents from atmospheric exposure butwhich is openable to permit egress of plastic material therethrough,through the aforesaid space, and through such spout passage and which isclosable by engagement of the central portions of said flange and wallmember to preclude oozing of plastic material from said spout duringperiods of non-use of said cartridge.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the passage through said end wallmember is initially closed by a flap valve hingedly connected to saidend wall member for swinging to passage-opening position under theinfluence of pressure adapted to be exerted on the plastic material insaid cartridge.

3. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the central portion of said flangewhen laterally flexed engages said flap valve to move the latter topassage-closing position.

4. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the central portion of said flangewhen laterally flexed engages an imperforate portion of said end wallmember which is radially offset from said flap valve.

5. A valve assembly and end wall structure for plastic materialcontaining cartridges comprising inner and outer parts adaptedrespectively to be fitted into and rolled over the end of a tubularcartridge body, a laterally flexible flange member peripherally clampedbetween said parts and having a central apertured portion which isspaced from a central transverse wall portion of said inner part andwhich is adapted to be flexed laterally to engage such wall portion,said inner part being formed with a passage therethrough, and a flapvalve hingedly connected to said inner part and effective to normallyclose such passage, said flange when flexed into engagement with saidwall portion serving to prevent egress of plastic material through suchpassage from the cartridge to which said assembly and end wall structureis adapted to be secured.

6. The valve assembly and end wall structure of claim 5 wherein suchcentral portion of said flange when flexed as aforesaid is effective toengage said flap valve to urge the latter to a position closing suchpassage.

7. The valve assembly and end wall structure of claim 5 wherein suchpassage is radially offset from the flange aperture and wherein suchcentral wall portion of said inner part is imperforate whereby flexingof said flange prevents egress of plastic material through such passage.

8. In a calking gun and the like, the combination of a tubular bodyadapted to contain calking compound, a

plunger in one end of said body, a handle at such one end having meansfor moving said plunger toward the other end of said body, a dispensingspout at such other end, a valve mechanism at such other end including awall member across such such other end of said body having a passage forflow of compound from within said body through said spout and alaterally flexible apertured member adapted to be flexed to engage saidwall member to stop flow of compound through such passage, and anactuator at such other end of said body to so flex said laterallyflexible member, said actuator extending toward said handle foractuation by the same hand as the gun is held in.

9. The calking gun of claim 8 wherein said gun and actuator are providedwith cooperating latch means effective to hold said laterally flexiblemember in its wall member engaging position to preclude oozing of thecompound from said spout during periods of non-use of the gun.

10. The calking gun of claim 8 wherein said wall member is intergallyformed with a hinged flap valve which initially closes such passage andthus seals the compound in said body from leakage and air exposure, andwhich is swingable to open such passage under the influence of pressureexerted on the compound in said body.

11. In a calking gun and the like, the combination of a tubular bodyadapted to contain calking compound, a plunger in one end of said body,a handle at such one end having means for moving said plunger toward theother end of said body, a dispensing spout at such other end, a valvemechanism at such other end including a wall member across such otherend of said body having a passage for flow of compound from within saidbody through said spout and a laterally flexible apertured memberadapted to be flexed to engage said wall member to stop flow of compoundthrough such passage, and an actuator at such other end of said body toso flex said laterally flexible member, said actuator being in the formof a screw having threaded engagement with said body and disposed toengage and thus flex said laterally flexible member as aforesaid.

12. The calking gun of claim 11 wherein said screw is tubular, and saiddispensing spout extends through said screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,119,033 Paddock Dec. 1, 1914 1,248,526 Morse Dec. 4, 1917 1,846,167Wallen Feb. 23, 1932 2,070,206 Hudson Feb. 9, 1937

